Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — Ecumenieal Chorale, Kawaiahaʻo Choir In Christmas Concerts [ARTICLE]

Ecumenieal Chorale, Kawaiahaʻo Choir In Christmas Concerts

The Hawaii Eeumenieal Chorale and the Kawaiaha'o Church Choir will present separate Christmas concerts this month at the historic church. The Eeumenieal Chorale will present a Christmas Choral Feast at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and the church choir's annual concert is slated for 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

Bandmaster Aaron Mahi of the Royal Hawaiian Band directs the chorale while Esther Rhinelander, music teacher in the intermediate division of the Kamehameha Schools, is director of the 25-voice church choir. The chorale program includes "Gloria" by Francis Poulene and "Laud to the Nativity" by Otorino Respighi. Buddy Naluai, co-founder of the Eeumenieal Chorale, will be on the organ for "Gloria" while "Laud" will be accompanied by a woodwind ensemble and the Chorale's own accompanist Ellie Lum on piano. Soloists include Neva Rego, soprano, of the Belle Cante style of singing; Sally Swanholm, Chorale soprano; and David Collins, a newly recruited tenor soloist.

Also joining the Chorale are the Gleemen of Hawaii and the Samoan Congregational Youth Choir in an offering of special music. The concert is free but an offering will be collected. The choir on Dec. 21 will be presenting a variety of Christmas carols and hymns in both English and Hawaiian. Selections from two Christmas cantatas will be performed and arranged in an illustrative fashion depicting the story of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. Selections from Handel's "Messiah" will also be rendered in Hawaiian. This performance is also free.